The State Central Registry (SCR), is the centralized call center to report child abuse and neglect - 1-877 NJ ABUSE.  “The Hotline” is toll free, and is accessible 24-hours per day, 7 days a week, and 365 days per year.  SCR screeners obtain relevant information from callers and forward reports requiring field response to the appropriate Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) Local Office, Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU), or after-hours response workers, Special Response Unit (SPRU).  The role of the screener includes conducting background checks and searching existing databases to provide accurate and thorough information to the assigned field worker.  When suitable, SCR screeners dispose of calls by making referral or warm line transfer to appropriate community-based services to support the family. 

SCR is staffed with professional screeners, speaking both English and Spanish and having access to a language bank of interpreters with knowledge of more than 130 additional languages.  SCR is also equipped with TTY lines for callers who are hearing impaired (TTY 1-800-835-5510) in order to assure accessibility to each potential caller.

For more information about reporting child abuse, click HERE.